Minsk wants Russia to be involved in Eastern Partnership

Belarus will continue to call for Russia`s involvement in the European Union`s Eastern Partnership program, Foreign Minister Uladzimir Makey told reporters following a joint board meeting of the foreign ministries of Belarus and Russia in Minsk on November 18.

He said that Minsk wanted Russia to be involved in regional projects carried out in the framework of the Eastern Partnership.

According to the minister, the meeting focused on a wide range of issues and the coordination of the two countries` approaches to relations with the European Union and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. A schedule of consultations between the two ministries in 2015 was signed. It includes some 20 meetings at different levels.

Russian Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the joint celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Soviet Union`s victory over Nazi Germany in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War, as well as "work with compatriots abroad" had been discussed.

"We discussed Belarus` and Russia`s relations with the EU," said Mr. Lavrov. "We are not looking for a conflict but in our work we will make it clear to the EU that sanctions are a road to nowhere. These counterproductive measures do not lead to the achievement of the declared goals."

Messrs. Lavrov and Makey also had a one-on-one meeting to discuss preparations for "coming Russian-Belarusian contacts at the top and high levels," including a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.